Thailand's cheap PCs 'force Microsoft's hand'

gulker writes "Microsoft declined to participate in Thailand's program to offer $250 computers to citizens (whose average income is $7,000) because it didn't want to lower the price of XP and Office. After 1 million of the machines were purchased, with Linux as the OS, MS has relented and will now offer XP home and the standard Office suite for $40, down from $500."